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Chiefs Get New D.J. Humphries Injury Return Timeline Before Playoffs

It sounds like the left tackle is expected to play on Christmas against the Steelers

By Joe Summers

Dec 15, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws against the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
Dec 15, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws against the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images / Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
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A new report emerged on Thursday concerning left tackle D.J. Humphries' return timeline from the hamstring injury he suffered in his first game with the Chiefs.

Kansas City signed the former Pro Bowler after repeated struggles from rookie Kingsley Suamataia and second-year Wanya Morris, though Humphries immediately went down and Morris had to step back in. Patrick Mahomes has been under duress all season long thanks to shoddy line play, but it sounds like Saturday's game against the Texans will be the last one Humphries misses.

According to Nate Taylor of The Athletic, the Chiefs expect Humphries to be ready to play on Christmas Day against the Steelers next Wednesday.

Chiefs Expect LT D.J. Humphries to Return on Christmas vs. Steelers

Humphries wasn't particularly impressive in his first action with Kansas City. That was to be expected given he hadn't played football in nearly a year, but it's still concerning considering that T.J. Watt and Pittsburgh's ferocious defensive line will be waiting.

Mahomes will play against the Texans after suffering another high-ankle sprain. Keeping that ankle as healthy as possible before the playoffs is the single-most important goal for this team. Suddenly, Humphries will be a big part of that task.

Should the Chiefs beat the Texans and Steelers, they'll clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC and can rest all of their starters in Week 18. That'd give the team two weeks of rest to get healthy given the first-round bye, and no team needs that rest more than Kansas City.

There's a reasonable concern that Humphries doesn't have enough time to get up to speed in time, so it's important to see how he looks. The Chiefs started Joe Thuney at tackle and Mike Caliendo against the Browns. Thuney's preferred position is obviously guard, but Caliendo performed well enough that the team could use that alignment in the postseason if necessary.

No matter what happens, all eyes will be on Humphries on Christmas and it's good to see him back with time before the playoffs.

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